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![Archaeology students and ULAS staff from University of Leicester carefully clean the fully exposed Trojan War mosaic.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ajr5qqJGZ7Nw3AUdgW5WFL-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ajr5qqJGZ7Nw3AUdgW5WFL-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ajr5qqJGZ7Nw3AUdgW5WFL-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ajr5qqJGZ7Nw3AUdgW5WFL-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ajr5qqJGZ7Nw3AUdgW5WFL-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ajr5qqJGZ7Nw3AUdgW5WFL-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ajr5qqJGZ7Nw3AUdgW5WFL-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ajr5qqJGZ7Nw3AUdgW5WFL-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
How we found Britain's only known Roman mosaic of the Trojan War
By John S Thomas published
The discovery of a previously unknown Roman villa in rural Rutland during the 2020 lockdown was one of the archaeological stories of the year.
![Father and daughter decorating Christmas tree in bay window at home, tradition, anticipation, childhood](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZcEXL4EmkaFJEDLUApGVU-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZcEXL4EmkaFJEDLUApGVU-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZcEXL4EmkaFJEDLUApGVU-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZcEXL4EmkaFJEDLUApGVU-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZcEXL4EmkaFJEDLUApGVU-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZcEXL4EmkaFJEDLUApGVU-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZcEXL4EmkaFJEDLUApGVU-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ZcEXL4EmkaFJEDLUApGVU-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
Why is Christmas celebrated on Dec. 25?
By Owen Jarus published
There are two major theories as to why Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 25.
![This letter, written by Charles V in 1547, contains long sections of mysterious symbols used to encrypt top secret information.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYUMx75KzzFMf7tT55Auti-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYUMx75KzzFMf7tT55Auti-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYUMx75KzzFMf7tT55Auti-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYUMx75KzzFMf7tT55Auti-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYUMx75KzzFMf7tT55Auti-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYUMx75KzzFMf7tT55Auti-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYUMx75KzzFMf7tT55Auti-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wYUMx75KzzFMf7tT55Auti-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Emperor king's top secret assassination letter finally decrypted after 500 years
By Harry Baker published
Researchers in France have finally cracked a complex code of mysterious symbols and "nonsense" decoys written by Charles V, the former Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain.
![Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, All About History 124 artwork](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ndVS4EXiJZm4E673tZDyj6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ndVS4EXiJZm4E673tZDyj6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ndVS4EXiJZm4E673tZDyj6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ndVS4EXiJZm4E673tZDyj6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ndVS4EXiJZm4E673tZDyj6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ndVS4EXiJZm4E673tZDyj6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ndVS4EXiJZm4E673tZDyj6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ndVS4EXiJZm4E673tZDyj6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
The great romance of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in All About History 124
By Jonathan Gordon published
Inside All About History 124: Discover how the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert reshaped the monarchies of Europe.
![A Krampus in a parade, Czech republic, Dec. 10, 2016](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26UVQV8JLxNFJGCJ3XWNwF-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26UVQV8JLxNFJGCJ3XWNwF-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26UVQV8JLxNFJGCJ3XWNwF-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26UVQV8JLxNFJGCJ3XWNwF-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26UVQV8JLxNFJGCJ3XWNwF-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26UVQV8JLxNFJGCJ3XWNwF-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26UVQV8JLxNFJGCJ3XWNwF-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26UVQV8JLxNFJGCJ3XWNwF-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Who is Krampus, and what does he have to do with Christmas?
By Owen Jarus published
Krampus is a mythical creature who punished badly behaved children, according to myth.
![All About History 123 magazine fan](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xPAHqX32i7PS2JNphcQesU-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xPAHqX32i7PS2JNphcQesU-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xPAHqX32i7PS2JNphcQesU-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xPAHqX32i7PS2JNphcQesU-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xPAHqX32i7PS2JNphcQesU-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xPAHqX32i7PS2JNphcQesU-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xPAHqX32i7PS2JNphcQesU-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xPAHqX32i7PS2JNphcQesU-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Save up to 45% on an 'All About History' magazine subscription this Black Friday
By Jonathan Gordon published
Get All About History sent to your door or digital device for as little as $2 per issue with this Black Friday subscription deal.
![Imperial Coronation of Charlemagne, painting, 1861](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRQBaH5S7udd5FQmKkbzTn-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRQBaH5S7udd5FQmKkbzTn-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRQBaH5S7udd5FQmKkbzTn-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRQBaH5S7udd5FQmKkbzTn-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRQBaH5S7udd5FQmKkbzTn-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRQBaH5S7udd5FQmKkbzTn-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRQBaH5S7udd5FQmKkbzTn-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MRQBaH5S7udd5FQmKkbzTn-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Who was Charlemagne, the Carolingian Emperor of Europe?
By Emily Staniforth published
Charlemagne was a king in the Middle Ages who changed European rulership as the founder of an empire
![Roman marble sarcophagus with togate men, known as the Sarcophagus of the Brothers, from the middle of the third century A.D., on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jN3RksVwm8QK5px2ehEmn3-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jN3RksVwm8QK5px2ehEmn3-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jN3RksVwm8QK5px2ehEmn3-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jN3RksVwm8QK5px2ehEmn3-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jN3RksVwm8QK5px2ehEmn3-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jN3RksVwm8QK5px2ehEmn3-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jN3RksVwm8QK5px2ehEmn3-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jN3RksVwm8QK5px2ehEmn3-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Who really wore togas?
By Joanna Thompson published
Who actually wore togas, and what were they for?
![Witch trial in Salem, Massachusetts. Lithograph by George H. Walker. Undated.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KE3ndoDP48i7PpPHGTpNa9-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KE3ndoDP48i7PpPHGTpNa9-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KE3ndoDP48i7PpPHGTpNa9-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KE3ndoDP48i7PpPHGTpNa9-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KE3ndoDP48i7PpPHGTpNa9-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KE3ndoDP48i7PpPHGTpNa9-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KE3ndoDP48i7PpPHGTpNa9-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KE3ndoDP48i7PpPHGTpNa9-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
4 in 10 people worldwide believe in witches
By Tia Ghose published
Around the world, belief in witches and witchcraft varied widely; more than 9 in 10 people in Tunisia believed that people could use supernatural powers to do harm, while fewer than 1 in 10 people in Sweden did.
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